Button appeared to clip the barrier as he exited the tunnel in the morning's second session.

His car hit the metal barriers which line the circuit on the right hand side, rebounded onto the guard rail on the left and then spun sideways before skidding down the escape road behind the harbour-front chicane into a third barrier.

Button, third in first qualifying on Thursday, remained in the shattered car as doctors attended to him for several minutes before being taken away in an ambulance.

Doctors said he had remained fully conscious with no visible injuries but had been winded by the heavy side impact.